Company
Finca La Virgen
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Andres Nuñez
“Organic pineapple farming means taking responsibility for the land, the people working on it, and the quality of the fruit.”
Products
Organic pineapples
Country
Costa Rica
Hi, I’m Andrés Núñez, and together with my team I grow organic pineapples at Finca La Virgen in Costa Rica. Our farm is located in a tropical region that offers excellent natural conditions for pineapple cultivation. From the start, our focus has been on producing high-quality fruit while working in balance with the environment and the people involved.
Choosing organic pineapple farming
We chose organic farming because conventional pineapple production can be very demanding on soil, water and surrounding ecosystems. Organic cultivation requires more attention and manual work, but it allows us to farm without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers. This helps protect soil life and reduces the impact on the natural environment around the farm.
Care for people and working conditions
Pineapple farming is labour-intensive, which makes good working conditions essential. At Finca La Virgen, we focus on providing safe employment, stable jobs and respectful treatment for our workers. Investing in people is a key part of building a farm that can operate responsibly in the long term.
Farming with a long-term vision
Our goal is continuity: keeping the land productive, maintaining soil fertility and delivering organic pineapples that meet high expectations in quality and reliability. By farming organically and with a long-term perspective, we aim to leave a healthy farm behind for future generations—while supplying organic pineapples that consumers can trust.
Our positive impact
Climate
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Organic pineapple production at Finca La Virgen avoids synthetic agrochemicals, resulting in a lower climate impact than conventional pineapple farming.
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Organic practices combined with regular rainfall and sea transport contribute to an overall lower carbon footprint.
Water
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The farm receives more than five meters of annual rainfall, so irrigation is virtually unnecessary for pineapple growth.
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Because runoff water contains no synthetic agrochemicals, it has no negative impact on the surrounding environment.
Soil
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Green cover crops and biological compost with earthworms are used to build organic matter and improve soil quality.
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All plant residues are worked back into the soil at the end of the harvest cycle to strengthen soil health.
Biodiversity
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Portions of the plantation are protected areas; 74 acres along riverbanks have been reforested with native trees.
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Surveys on the farm have found sloths, coatis, raccoons, monkeys and even a threatened ant species, showing increased wildlife presence since organic conversion.
Individual
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Finca La Virgen has built an education centre with childcare and computer facilities for staff and their families, offering learning opportunities and free bus transport.
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Many workers are local residents who fled civil war in neighbouring Nicaragua; the centre supports community development and skills building.
Society
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The education centre serves the wider community, offering access to computers and basic English lessons to approximately 500 visitors per week.
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Organic farming at La Virgen demonstrates that commercial-scale pineapple production can coexist with rainforest protection and ecosystem conservation.
Economy
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Finca La Virgen is a long-established organic operation (founded in 1991) with more than 1,200 hectares under management.
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About 700 hectares are primarily planted with organic pineapple and a smaller area with papayas; 450 hectares are set aside as conservation land.
Greetings from our farm!
Location
Costa Rica — home of Finca La Virgen, where Andrés Núñez grows organic pineapples in a tropical climate.
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